Influence of eicosapentaenoic acid and vitamin E on hepatic hydroxyproline content in rabbits fed cholesterol-rich diet.

The effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and vitamin E on hepatic hydroxyproline content, as an index of collagen was examined in rabbits receiving cholesterol rich diets for a period of 45 days. Rabbits were divided as control (A) and cholesterol fed groups (B, C, D). Group C received 80 mg. of EPA and group D received 100 IU of vitamin E daily in addition to the cholesterol rich diet (2% w/w) which was solely given to group B. The maintenance of rabbits on high cholesterol diets resulted in significantly increased liver cholesterol concentrations. This effect was most pronounced in rabbits receiving cholesterol alone. Hepatic triglyceride levels remained unchanged in all cholesterol-fed rabbits, but total phospholipid levels in liver significantly decreased in EPA and vitamin E supplemented rabbits. An interesting finding was the increase in hepatic hydroxyproline content in rabbits following the administration of EPA and vitamin E to cholesterol rich diet.